Police get new powers to tackle underage drinking and antisocial behaviour

Jan 30 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW police powers to tackle problem children as young as 10 and underage drinking will be used in Huddersfield, police chiefs say.

Police throughout England and Wales have been given new powers to confiscate alcohol from suspected underage drinkers without having to prove the youngsters intended to consume it.

And shopkeepers caught selling booze to underage drinkers twice in three months could have their licences taken from them.

Sgt John McFadzean, who leads the Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said yesterday’s new powers were a logical step forward.

Officers are now able to issue ‘direction to leave’ orders to children as young as 10 who are causing trouble in public places. Previously, these notices could only be given to those aged over 16.

Persistent underage drinkers face tougher action with the introduction of a new offence for under 18s repeatedly caught with alcohol in a public place.

And Sgt McFadzean issued a warning to shopkeepers caught selling alcohol regularly – two strikes and you’re out.

Sgt McFadzean said: “I think this is going to make it easier for us in dealing with the situations we find ourselves in.

“Often we come across a group of young people aged between 14 and 17 and we gave them ‘directions to leave’ – half the group go and we take the younger half home to their parents if they’ve been drinking, but they can be back out again in five minutes.”

Sgt McFadzean added: “We carried out a number of test purchasing operations last autumn across Kirklees and we’ll be going back again over the coming weekends.